PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Steve”

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Steve, an analyst who loves Asian food but would choose tacos over anything and would rather be working in Venice!

Name: Steve

Age: 23

Occupation: Corporate Control Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Right in between Times Square and Herald Square

Favorite Kind of Food: Ermmm…I am Korean, so liking anything ridiculously spicy is just how I was raised…I’m pretty non-discriminatory about foods…my girlfriend one time said, “while most people either have a sweet tooth or a savory palette, you seem to just like things that are tasty.” I assumed that was just another way of saying I like everything flavorful…But if I could only eat one food for the rest of my life? Tacos.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything bland, anything with a squeaky texture, and cilantro. I have no clue why I don’t like it…I just don’t. I love pho, but I’ll pick all of it out…for some reason I just can’t stand cilantro, though I love mexican + vietnamese food…

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The grand slam (with a friend! hopefully) at Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th). The spicy chicken sandwich, curry pan, or the crab bowl at Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th). The double sauteed pork at Lan Sheng on 39th btw. 5+6th (preferred over Szechuan Gourmet for it’s nicer service.) The kim bap at E-Mo (a little kim bap only place next to Woorijiip on 32nd btw. B’way+5th – try the cheese!) Jja jja myung at Hyo Dong Gak on 35th btw. 5+6th (oh yes, the special Korean person menu…) Wait, why were these all asian…?

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Probably the generic Food Exchange next door…sigh.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Go Go Curry, Cafe Zaiya, Ying Du (on 38th btw. 7+8th), Kwik Meal (on 45th and 6th), Lan Sheng, Szechuan Gourmet, Little Morocco (on 39th & 7th), Treats Truck, Kati Roll (on 39th btw. 5+6th)…

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Venice. It’d be nice to live somewhere that the food culture dictates that you ought to take a two hour lunch to spend time with friends and drink and eat a good meal that’s made by recipes that have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Is there any place I can just get a decent piece of roasted chicken and vegetables around Bryant Park?

Tio Pio West, Midtown NYC

Have you tried Tio Pio on 36th btw. 5+6th.  It can be dry sometimes, and their side dishes aren’t all winners… but it’s rotisserie chicken.  And it’s good enough.  Have you got a better recommendation for Steve? Feel free to put it in the comments. And as always, if you would like to be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email zach@midtownlunch.com.

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